Yvan Mispelaere

Diane von Furstenberg made her first public comment about the departure of her creative director Yvan Mispelaere on the same day his exit was announced.

"Yvan is a really talented designer," von Furstenberg said. "He joined DVF almost three years ago, and he helped me to brand it. He was very, very helpful. I think he had a good time. He saw a whole other way of seeing fashion and doing fashion, and then he felt like his mission was accomplished, so we parted."

Citing a press release from von Furstenberg's team, previous reports said Mispelaere would not be replaced, and that an in-house team would lead the design process. But the designer herself — who has counted Catherine Malandrino among her creative directors — seemed open to bringing another young designer into the fold.

"I think that he put together a really dynamic team," she said of Mispelaere. "There's a lot of talented designers, and I love the idea of having a laboratory."

Von Furstenberg was similarly vague about the implications of another staff change: the hiring of former Tommy Hilfiger executive Joel Horowitz as cochairman. Some have suggested Horowitz will help the company go public, but von Furstenberg wouldn't discuss specifics of his job.

"I realize that I have created a brand. And I look back and there's a big body of work and there's a huge recognition," she said. "I really have an asset — that's something that can go on after me. . . . It's a platform to build the next step."

Just when it seemed that the DVF label was hitting its stride with creative director Yvan Mispelaere at the helm comes the sudden news that he is out the door. His departure, the brand says, is effective immediately.

"I am so grateful for the contributions Yvan brought to DVF and fully support him as he takes the next step in his career," Diane von Furstenberg said in a statement released by the company Tuesday. "Yvan joined us almost three years ago and has added enormous value. He also put together a highly skilled design team to support our growth both in fashion and accessories. I am very thankful and proud of his accomplishments here and I look forward to our strong team continuing to create the signature DVF look for women everywhere." As of now, the company says it has no plans to replace him.

With stints at Chloé, Valentino, and Gucci under his belt, Mispelaere was largely credited with bringing a renewed sense of polish, as well as a refined eye for color, to the DVF brand. The collection he and von Furstenberg presented for Fall 2012, for example, was one of that season's more memorable New York Fashion Week shows. And though Spring 2013, shown only a few days ago at Lincoln Center, somewhat lacked that same sense of power and focus, it was still plenty gorgeous. One has to wonder if that lack of cohesion was the result of Mispelaere knowing he may have soon been on his way out.

"I came to DVF to help further the brand's mission and create a world-class design team. I am confident we have been able to achieve that during my time with the company," Mispelaere said in the statement. "I can't thank Diane enough for the opportunity to work with her and such talented people. The group is now well-positioned for even greater success, and I am eager to take on my next challenge." Yvan, we're looking forward to that too.

>> Diane von Furstenberg was planning on spending a week skiing in Aspen, but unfortunately it didn't turn out that way, she emailed WWD: “Barry [Diller] and I were skiing happily. Some Brazilian man, who could not ski, lost control and went straight at me, hitting me badly on my face and ribs (with his camera). I went to the emergency room and then flew to UCLA. I look like Mike Tyson on his worst fight. Broken nose and some light facial fractures. At home in L.A. now waiting to heal. Will be staying here the week because I have my children and grandkids. I guess it could have been worse…but it does NOT look pretty.” She later Tweeted: "I guess i was lucky although i get scared when i look in the mirror." But it sounds like her Fall 2011 collection won't be affected: “Thank god I have Yvan Mispelaere [her creative director] in the sample room.” [WWD]

>> On Valentine's Day, Nathan Jenden will take his last runway bow as creative director of Diane von Furstenberg before shipping off to focus exclusively on his own collection, launched in 2006.

In his stead, von Furstenberg has hired Yvan Mispelaere, who was a member of Phoebe Philo's design team at Chloe and took a runway bow after her exit.  He then left Chloe to join Gucci under Frida Giannini in 2006.

Jenden has been with von Furstenberg since 2001; she invested in his eponymous line when it launched and will continue to do so after Jenden leaves her company. “I have an interest in his company and I have an interest in his future, and if he wants to show in New York, then I will help him as the president of the CFDA,” von Furstenberg explained.

Jenden admitted he might show in New York in the future; he has been showing in London to give him time between von Furstenberg's show and his own.  He also has plans to expand his collection into resort and accessories in the near future.